Hand luggage construction



Dec. 7, 1943. T. l..` LYNAM HAND LUGGAGE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 25, 1959 2 'sheets-sheet 1 2' sheets-sheet '.r. L. LYNAM v HAND LUGGAGE 'CONSTRUCTION Filed "Jue 23, 1939l a r l ,m2/. ,2 M r. n n i m www ML ,vffwrelr my@ h i j@ 4. i .sx 9 o m w WQ w 4 Y m. w ,u f

Dec. 7, 1943.

Patented Dec. 7, 1943 'HAND-LUGGAGE c'oNsirnUoTnIoN Thornton L. LynajllQNew Bedford, Mass., assign- A'ortoFibro 'Products Company, Inc., New Bedford, Mass., Va; corporation' of Massachusetts Application Juneo, 1939, ySerial blo-28.05756 2 claims.Y y,(01. 190;:41')

- This inventionrelates. tovhandiluggage and the like, andto a method of constructing the same.

More particularly'the invention .is .directed toy that type of bags in which the closure is se-A cured or .opened by means of the usual .Wellknown hookless fastener mechanisms. )in such bags, the hooklessfastenerelements, which are.- carried by flexibleA fabric tapes, areV positioned along or adjacent to the edges ojfv the body portion of the .bag and ofthe cover pori tion of the bag. Consequently, in the normal use ofthe bag, in putting things in and taking them out, these Vtapes become displaced and folded over the edges of the cover or of thev body portion., When the cover is, then shut downen: f

the body portion, ywhichis done before the tapes and fastening elements are brought into enjgagement, the latter are caught between the. coyer and the edge lof the bodyportion and not only may be crushed and deformed but are prevented from being carried intoengagement with each other in the usual way. In-such cases; the tapes have to be straightened out before the bag can be closed or mayhave to berepaired, whichl is, of course, extremely inconvenient.

It is accordingly an object ofthe present-ing vention to providey for the construction of ,bags and the like whereby thesedifficulties maybe overcome and whereby the opening and closing and fastening and unfastening ofv suchbags may.

be facilitated and assured. Other objectsv will appear from` the following disclosure.l

In accordance .with the present invention;` a

bag is madelhaving a a body portion and a'cover` portion, cooperating to form ay mouth and a closure therefor, inV which the' free edge ,of the body portion, defining the mouth, is preferably made wide enoughto engagev and retain thereon the corresponding edge of ak rim mountedv on` themarginof the cover portion. The contacting edge of' the rim on the cover portion is pref-- erably thin or narrow, or-.recessedifromfthe--oute er.- margins of@ the cover portionl and body por# tudinaltape, carrying on itsfree` edge a `row .of

the usual hookless fastener elements, adapted to' engage with thev row of similar elements mountedonthe outer edge .of :the body portion. Uponclosing the cover andefecting-engagement be`v tween the two rows of hookless fastening ele-c ments, thus opposed.the rows .of fastening Aelements are held out .and away from the meetingv edges of the cover and bdyportion, and hence are-prevented from becoming pinched between them. Since `the' tape and 'fastening elements oir-the' coverare above. the edge. of the rim, they arey positively preventedfrom such intervention And since the.- meetingredgeofthei cover lies api' preciablywithin the outerperiphery of the `top edgeof the bodyzportiom. the tape attached' ori the gouter. side of the lattergfevenr if folded` over, can vnot reach thepoint where the edge.r` of the cover portion comes into engagement therewith'.

Typical embodiments of the inventionasthus generally outlined: will be; `described vwith reference to the accompanying drawings inwhieh:

Fig. l is a perspective'yiew ofv a suitcase'made in accordance-with the invention,.in closed'posi tion and as usually setdowmrestng. upon the back wall;

,Y k Fig. 2 isl an end viewfl ofthe same, `resting vupon itsrbottomL Wall and with the, topwall or ,cover inraised position;

Fig. 3 .is a viewv ofthe .insidevofthe cover and' ofr aV partv of.` the lbody portion. along the line 3-t-l3' of Fig. 2, the rest of the body portion .being broken away;

Fig. 4-isran enlarged.` detail cross-section along' @hannes 4 4 ofrigi, in: the direction of. the

arrows;. Fig..g5 is similar toFig. 4, showing a-modi-ed form of rim and arrangement thereof zon the cover portion;`

Fig. 6 is likewise similar to'Fig` 4', showingline ltr-l0 in' the" direction lof the arrows',` with' corner of the cover portion and body portion (when closed) along the line I3--I3 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a cross-section, similar to that of Fig. 12 or 13, showing a modified form of the invention; V e' Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail cross-sectionlof Ithe top of the body portion of Va piece of hand luggage, or the like, showing a special mode of attaching the tape of hookless fastener elements thereto;

Fig. 16 is a similar enlarged detail cross-section of; the top of the body portion of a bag or the like, showing a special mode of attaching the taperof .hookless fastener elements thereto, and assembly with the covering material for the body portion.

.In th'e illustration in Fig. 1, the finished suitcase is shown, closed and fastened and resting upon .the back wall which is the bottom when carried. The body portion of the suitcase is made up (see Fig. 2) of a substantially rectangular bottom wall I, to which is attached around its periphery the surrounding wall `2-which is continuousbut may be considered as made up of a back wall 3, a front wall 4 and two end walls 5, E-and a top or cover portion 1, substantially the same size and shape positioned opposite and parallel to .the bottom wall I, and hinged to the backwall 3 in any convenient way, as indicated at 8. l

The bottom Wall I may be made of any suitable stiff sheet material such as paper, wood, etc.,l and covered in the usual way. The surrounding or side walls are likewise preferably made of strong material of substantial thickness, such' as specially manufactured paper or wood 9, as shown in Fig. 4; The inside of the wall may be covered with a suitable lining II, while the top edge of the wall I2 is covered with a suitable finishing such as a band of cloth I3, fitting snuglyover it and secured thereto as will be described below. I I

The covering of the side walls may be composed of various kinds of sheet material I4 along the upper edge I5 of which is laid a tape I6 having hookless fastener elements I1 extending beyond its outer edge and being joined to a strip I8, by a layer of cement I9. The upper edge I5 of the covering material I4, the tape I6, and the strip I8 are sewn together by a `row of stitching 2|. The whole, as thus joined, is sewn to the surrounding wall of the body portion of the case with the upper edge parallel and adjacent to and preferablyslightly overlappingthe top edge I2 of the wall, as shown in Fig. 4. It is then sewn to the body portion of the box bythe row of stitch--k ing 22 which passes therethrough and through the band of cloth I3 covering the top edge of the wall, as above mentioned.

The cover portion1 is made of stiff sheet or board 20, provided with a sheet covering material 23, over its outer surface, the margins of which liel even with the margins of the cover and are attached to one edge of a strip oi tape v24,

carrying on its outer edge a row of hookless fasteners 25, by a row of stitching 26, as shown in Fig. 4. y

On the inside of the cover, and adjacent to and parallel with its outer edge, is attached a downwardly projecting rim 21 having means along its upper edge for attachment to the cover, and its lower edge corresponding and conforming to the surrounding wall 2, so as to `register with and rest upon the to`p edge I2 thereof, and preferably in the middle or near the inner periphery I2*l 'of the same.

The downwardly projecting rim on the cover portion may be provided in several ways. As shown in Fig. 4, it may be made of metal having perforated tabs 28 along its upper edge, bent inwardly at right angles to receive rivets or eyelets 29 passing therethrough and through the fus margin of the cover board 20, and headed down, to hold the rim firmly and rigidly in position. The lower edge may be rolled inwardly as at 3l to provide a smooth, round edge adapted to bear upon the edge I2 of the wall 2, as shown. The covering material 23 may then be sewed to the board 20 b'y th'e row of stitching 32. Upon now closing the cover.1, the rolled rim 3| bears upon the top wall I 2. of the body portion, and the hookless fastener elements I1 and 25 may be interengaged in the usual way by the slider key 33, to

close and fasten the suitcase, as it is shown in Fig. 4. A form of `rim is shown in Fig. 5 in which the depending portion 34 is provided Vwith tabs 35, bent outwardly at right angles and adapted to receive rivets or eyelets 30 therethrough and through the margin of the cover board 20, while the lower edge 36 is rolled outwardly, and in position to bear -upon the top edge I2 of the surrounding wall 2.of the body portion, near its inner periphery or edge I2a. In this arrangement the fastening elements I1 and 25 may be interengaged as before, but are free and spaced apart from the body portion and the rim of the cover. While they may receive tensile stresses, therefore, the fastener tabs are not subjected to compression or buckling or folding. Moreover, the tapes V-carrying the hookless fasteners can not be caught between engaging edges of the cover portion and the surrounding wall because the upper tape can not reach to the edge of the rim, and the lower tape is retained stiifly in position by the strip I8 and margin ofV the covering material I4, between which it is secured-and also by stiifening'the same, as will be described below.

The distance which the tape on the body portion projects above the top edge of the wall 2 (as shown'in Figs. 4 and 5) may be considerably reduced, if desired, without necessitating that the upper tape come even with or below the edge of the rim on the cover (in order for the fasteners to engage with each otherl-and hence without possibility of being caught between the rim on the cover and the top wall of the body portion. 'I'he arrangement shown in Fig. 5 still further precludes this possibility.

StillV further vto protect the tapes carrying the hookless fastening elements, it is found that they may be impregnated with stiiiening or sizing materials, such as gums, resin, casein, glue, cellulosesV and the like, vas indicated at 31 in Fig. 7, thus making the tape stiff and resilient or form retaining and also more firmly retentive of the fastening elements in relation to the coverand,

wall and also of their relative positions to each other. Or the free side or margin 33 only of such tapes may be sized, as indicated in Fig. 8, leaving the margin carryingvthe fastening elements freely flexible. Conversely, the edge of the tape carrying the fastening elements may be stiffened by sizing, either before or after the hookless fastening elements have been attached thereto, and the other side left soft, for some purposes, such as sewing to irregular or flexible materials. Various sizing agents for fabrics may be used, such as water-resistant glues, synthetic resin solutions, various cellulose solutions and the like, which develop stiffness and leave the impregnated portion of the tape rm and strong but preferably resilient rather than hard or brittle.

A modified form of suitcase made in accordance with the invention is shownin Figs. 6 and 9 to 13. In this form the cover and body wall are likewise substantially rectangular in shape, and similarly constructed, and accordingly like numerals are employed to indicate like parts. However, the cover 4I is provided on the inside margin of the cover with a rim which is made up of straight wooden strips 42, 42 parallel to the straight edges of the cover and thin metal or wooden strips 43, 43 set into and joined thereto, at the ends, as by eyelets or rivets 44, at the corners. The thin strips 43 are thus let into the inner sides of the ends of the straight strips 42 so that, at the corners especially, the rim is recessed appreciably inwardly from the margins of the cover, as shown in Fig. 9. The straight strips 42, as shown, are attached to the cover by brads or the like 45 which may be turned up at their pointed ends 46, as indicated in Fig. 10.

Upon closing the cover 4I upon the body portion, the lower edge 41 of the rim corresponds to and rests upon the top wall I 2 of the body portion and may be o-f equal width therewith, as shown in Fig. 12. But at the corners, Where the tapes carrying the hookless fastener elements II and 25, especially tend to be drawn inwardly, the lower edges 48 of the thinner corner pieces 43 will not bear upon the full width of the top edge I2 of the body Wall but on or near its inner periphery I2@ as shown in Fig. 13, and thus prevent the fastening elements or tapes from coming between the engaging edges of the cover and wall of the body portion.

If it is desired to make the rim of the same cross-section throughout, which is usually preferred, this may be accomplished by making it somewhat V-shaped, like the rim 49 shown in Fig. 14-the inner side 5I being vertical and the outer side 52 slanting inwardly from the margin of the cover board 20, thus standing away from the row of hookless fasteners at all points and affording a hrm bearing between the rim on the cover portion and the top edge of the wall of the body portion, when closed.

Another form of this construction is shown in Fig. 6, in which the rim 53 is vertical on its inner side 54, and concavely arched on its outer side 55, While the edge 56 bears on the inner portion of the top edge I2a of the body portion. In al1 forms the rim on the cover portion may be left bare or it may have a sheet of appropriate covering material 51 applied over it, as in Fig. 14, and held by customary adhesives or cement, or may be retained between the edge of the board 20 and covering material 23 of the cover 'I, and by stitching 58, as shown in Fig. 14.

A modified form of attachment for tapes carrying hookless fastener elements, especially on the body portion of a suitcase, for example, is shown in Figs. 15 and 16. In such arrangement,l the tape 6I is laid along and near the top edge (e. g., of the surrounding wall 2 of the body portion of the suitcase), with the free edge 52 of the tape adjacent the edge of the wall and the fastening elements pointing downwardly and away from the edge of the wall. The tape is then sewed to the wall along its middle or near its free edge, with a row of stitching 53. The tape 5i is then folded up, as shown in Fig. 16. The sheet covering material 54 may then be provided with a ller strip 65 along its margin and an edging or binding strip 65 laid thereover and sewn to the covering material by a row of stitching 6i. The free edges of the sheet material 64 and of the ller strip 65 are then brought firmly upward against the folded edge 58 of the tape 5I, and the sheet material, filler strip, and binding strip are firmly attached to the side wall in this position by a row of stitching 69. By this arrangement, and especially if the tape is stiffened by sizing as above described, the tape and l the hookless fastening elements thereon are made to stand away from the edge to which they are fastened. This arrangement of hookless fastener tapes is applicable generally to those instances of use Where it is important that the fastener tape and fastener elements von it shall not intervene between the remaining portions and especially between the adjacent edges of the objects Which are being joined together by the fasteners.

I claim:

l. A bag, having a body portion and a cover portion, a tape, carrying hookless fastening elements on one edge and attached along the other edge to the margin of the cover portion, another tape carrying hookless fastening elements on one edge and attached along its other edge to the corresponding margin of the body portion, said fastening elements being adapted to interengage when the bag is closed, and a stiff rim on the inside of the cover portion substantially parallel to, but recessed from the margin of the cover portion and adapted to engage the inner periphery of the edge of the body portion when the bag is closed, the line of engagement between the cover portion and body portion being beyond possible contact with said hookless fastener elements.

2. A bag, having a body portion and a cover portion, a tape, carrying hookless fastening elements on one edge and attached along the other edge to the margin of the cover portion, another tape carrying hookless fastening elements on one edge and attached along its other edge to the corresponding margin of the body portion, said fastening elements being adapted to interengage when the bag is closed, the free edge of the body portion presenting a wide surface thereon, and a stiff rim on the inside of the cover portion substantially parallel to, but recessed from the margin of the cover portion and adapted to engage the inner periphery of the edge of the body portion when the bag is closed, the line of engagement between the cover portion and body portion being beyond possible contact with said hookless fastener elements.

THORNTON L. LYNAM. 

